Bungle Bungles overnight hike

by Cathy
(WA)

We would like to do the overnight hike to Piccaninny Gorge in the Bungle Bungles and wonder how to camp out. Will a sleeping bag be enough protection (e.g. wildlife, snakes...) or is there a place to pitch a tent? A swag seems a bit too heavy to carry all the way...

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Bungle Bungles overnight hike

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Keep the weight down
by: Birgit

Hi Cathy,

Saltwater crocodiles are the only wildlife you need to fear in this country, and there are none in the Bungles. Snakes only bite if you attack them :-).

The only thing you need to protect yourself from is cold weather and maybe mosquitoes. The latter depends on the time of the year.

I would only take a mozzie dome or mozzie net, a foam mattress or self inflatable mattress and a warm enough sleeping bag. In the Bungles the night temperatures can drop below zero for several months of the year.

During the colder time of the year I might even leave the mozzie dome behind and just take a bit of repellent, just in case.

On the other hand it may help to stay warm if you carry a dome with a fly (or a tent instead of the dome). This would also protect you from dew.

Is there a place to pitch a tent? I'm sure you will find one. It's a creek bed, so there are many flat, sandy sections.

What you take really depends on the time of the year. Take as little as you can get away with. It's a hard enough walk without unnecessary weight on your back.

You will need to carry a lot of water on that trip (and take some purification tablets or a filter). This will be even more of a problem if your trip is later, once it warms up again.

Have you done much serious bushwalking before? Hard to guess from your message... You don't want to carry more than 12-15 kg all up. 25% of your body weight is the max you should carry.

Try keep it down best as you can.

Make sure you register for the walk and have a chat to the rangers before you head off. They will be able to tell you more about the water supply in the gorge and the temperatures you can expect.

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Submitted by: Birgit

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Hi Cathy, Saltwater crocodiles are the only wildlife you need to fear in this country, and there are none in the Bungles. Snakes only bite if you attack them :-). The only thing you need to protect yourself from is cold weather and maybe mosquitoes. The latter depends on the time of the year. I would only take a mozzie dome or mozzie net, a foam mattress or self inflatable mattress and a warm enough sleeping bag. In the Bungles the night temperatures can drop below zero for several months of the year. During the colder time of the year I might even leave the mozzie dome behind and just take a bit of repellent, just in case. On the other hand it may help to stay warm if you carry a dome with a fly (or a tent instead of the dome). This would also protect you from dew. Is there a place to pitch a tent? I'm sure you will find one. It's a creek bed, so there are many flat, sandy sections. What you take really depends on the time of the year. Take as little as you can get away with. It's a hard enough walk without unnecessary weight on your back. You will need to carry a lot of water on that trip (and take some purification tablets or a filter). This will be even more of a problem if your trip is later, once it warms up again. Have you done much serious bushwalking before? Hard to guess from your message... You don't want to carry more than 12-15 kg all up. 25% of your body weight is the max you should carry. Try keep it down best as you can. Make sure you register for the walk and have a chat to the rangers before you head off. They will be able to tell you more about the water supply in the gorge and the temperatures you can expect.

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Thanks!
by: Cathy

Many thanks for all this info. That helps a lot with the planning. We will certainly not attack any snakes so should be on the safe side with camping out...